IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL PLANTS TO FISH

AQUARIUM CARE

Importance of natural plants (I)

A 4ft Aquarium with Natural plants constructed by Mr Fish

The use of live underwater plants in home aquariums has been fully explained and documented in many advanced countries of the world where the hobby – tropical fish-keeping holds a second place (after the world’s number one hobby-photographer). Majority of aquarium keepers in the country are fond of using plastic plants rather than the real live aquatic ones. This could probably be the major reason for the unending complaints about fish death, cloudy water and the production of fetid odour from the aquarium water. In an effort to solve these problems I shall endeavour to put before the country’s Aquarists the true value of natural plants in the aquarium.

One of the most important functions of plants lies in the release of fresh 100 per cent pure oxygen into the tank as a by-product of photosynthesis. This aids fish-breathing and as a result the aquarium can thrive comfortably without the use of artificial aeration and electric light! Other important functions include – The reduction of toxic carbon-dioxide level (CO₂ level) which happens to be a critical factor causing constant fish deaths. The plants use up the CO₂ in the process of food formation. 

The nature of the carbon-dioxide gas is such that, once it is produced inside the water (e.g. by the fish), it stays put in the aquarium no matter the amount of aeration, because the CO₂ gas is about three times more miscible with water than oxygen. The resultant effect of this is that there is a gradual build-up of this waste gas leading eventually to suffocation of the fish unless there is a partial or complete removal of the aquarium water which could be rather cumbersome.